Sport's lumbar support uncomfortable.

Hi David, yes I know I'd asked a couple of times (several... multiple? Ahem), knew that you'd be in touch when you'd extricated the lumbar gubbins so thought that I'd lay off the badgering. As it happens I took a trip up to Tom/Timmus a couple of months back and mentioned that I was hoping to get your surplus seats -- then a couple of weeks back he said that he'd picked up some blue leather sport seats (as you know, I wanted blue) with me in mind and given condition + rarity, couldn't say no. Unfortunate timing in the end it seems, hope that I haven't put you out?
The true irony will be if cloth sports minus lumbar is comfortable! How are you finding the retrofitted lumbar?
Cheers,
Tom.
 
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So my sport seats are currently in 2 pieces on the floor and I'm looking at the lumbar support cage. It's backed completely off via the switch in the car but it still has shape to it i.e, curved not flat. Is this correct? I've also got the standard seats in a sate of undress and I'm very tempted to remove the lumbar support and use the bog-standard cage.
There's just no give with the adjustable cage and it's 'neutral' shape isn't comfy. If it should be flat then it goes a long way to explaining things.
If I manage to get the seat cover off (airbag frame rivet is defeating me), will I need to do anything with the electrics?
Thanks everyone.
Regards,
Tom.
 
Hi Tom, The irony of all this amazes me! I have just gone in the reverse direction! Now, yes, there will be some curvature of the lumbar support, even when fully backed-off. It should have give the Sports-seat a reasonable contour? You don't need to remove that airbag frame rivet? .... Just withdraw the airbag after removing the three retaining nuts .... Now, feed the airbag through the opening in the side of the leather cover and simply lift the cover off, in an upwards direction. You will need to remove the headrest support tubes, of course. Have you got ELSA-WIN, because it's very helpful! To convert to standard backrest, you will need the back-frame and an extra pair of springs. It is such a pity that I purchased those seats just for the lumbar supports, and there you are with just what I would have needed! (and I'm even having to purchase another internal loom and spring, because they have been lost) Oh well, I hope that it all goes well for you .... I still think that it would be good to meet-up!

David

David
 
Hi guys
I just bought a set of sport seats. They are leather but without lumbar support. I didn't know you could get them. Hope they will be comfy enough. I have at this moment cloth SE ones and I am doing a lot of mileage, 500 miles just yesterday.
I should get them in 2 weeks. I will post again to let you know.

Herve
 
Hi Tom and others,

I'm honestly quite surprised that anyone would wish to remove the lumbar supports, though that's perhaps because I find the Sport seats cripplingly uncomfortable without the lumbar support applied. As you move the lumbar support backwards, an enormous void forms into which your lower back sinks. When I fitted my Sport seats, I was surprised to find that I only adjust the lumbar support between roughly 75% and 100% applied. I've even considered opening my seats and tightening the lumbar actuator cables to move its range in a forwardly direction.

The early Sport seats (from 2000 and 2001) came without adjustable lumbar support. But the back bolster is formed in a way that's equivalent to having the adjustable lumbar support mostly applied.

When I first fitted my Sport seats, I set them such that my driving position was similar to how it'd been when I just had SE seats. It took me some months to adjust my driving position to make the most of my new seats. I find that, in Sport seats, it's more comfortable to sit in a more reclined position, with the steering column pulled out and my legs at greater stretch.
It's been a number of weeks since I fitted your Sport seats (and the lumbar support loom!), so I imagine you've played with them a fair bit. Without wishing to sound patronising, have you tried rethinking you driving position?

I'm more than happy to assist you in the removal of the lumbar support mechanism, even though I can't imagine how torturously uncomfortable I'd find the seats without it!

Cheers,

Tom
 
I have to say I'm surprised too, but then I went a slightly different route - the cloth SE seats gave me chronic lower back ache, but replacing them with leather SE seats solved all of that. The firmer leather gave just enough lumbar support.
I would have preferred Sport leather seats but they weren't what was available when the seats came up!
 
timmus said:
Hi Tom and others,

though that's perhaps because I find the Sport seats cripplingly uncomfortable without the lumbar support applied. As you move the lumbar support backwards, an enormous void forms into which your lower back sinks. .



I'm more than happy to assist you in the removal of the lumbar support mechanism, even though I can't imagine how torturously uncomfortable I'd find the seats without it!

Tom
Click to expand...
Well, the very best way to comment on anything is to speak from experience! So that is what I'm about to do .... I have removed the complete lumbar-support mechanism from Sports-seats and then (temporarily), re-fitted them into my car. I really have found them extremely comfortable, even over a reasonable distance. Incidentally, the seat-backs are quite firm, with no sagging whatsoever. My partner also prefers them to my S.E. seats ... I have examined the lumbar-support mechanism and I have concluded that it would be possible to slightly slacken the degree of initial curvature by carefully cutting-off a few mm's of the outer operating cable. Similarly, curvature could be increased by inserting a spacer to increase the length of the outer cable sleeve .... However, Tom, your comments regarding lumbar-support are very encouraging to me, because I have just fitted them into my leather S.E. seats! As an aside, I will very shortly have for sale a full set of blue Sports-seats, without lumbar-support. I am willing for any A2OC member to try them, first, before committing to a purchase ....

David
 
My Audis has to have three things: sport seats, three spoke steering wheels and manual gearbox. Everything else is less important to me.
Talking about the sport seats and the lumbal problems, I personaly find the side supports on Audi sport seats more important than lumbal adjustment. I have a big lumbal problem too, I can't complain on A2 sport seats without lumbal adjustment.
I don't know how the big people feel them, but a little guy like me (168 cm, 71.5 kg) sits tight between the side supports, I feel no pressure on any part of my back driving through norwegian swinging roads.
Cheers,
Darko
 
Interesting to read everyone's opinion, guess it proves how tricky it is to design a one-size-fits-all seat. I've only driven A2s with the standard cloth, non-adjustable seats so I have no comparison, but it made me wonder if my sports were 'broken.' So I'm the polar opposite to timmus in that I can't believe how uncomfortable adjustable lumbar is!
I'd much rather keep the lumbar but I can distinctly feel the adjustable cage and it prevents my back settling into the seat -- putting all the pressure on my lower back. I'm confident that removing said cage will be a panacea but thanks to David and Darko for weighing in, I'll definitely be removing the lumbar cage as soon as.
Big thanks to David actually, greatly appreciate the help.
Will post back with the verdict, just need to find the time.
Regards,
Tom.
 
timmus said:
...
It's been a number of weeks since I fitted your Sport seats (and the lumbar support loom!) ...
Click to expand...

Timmus

I think I may have acquired some sports seats via chumsofmanutd (which might have originated from you as it happens). I was planning to try them in my Storm which has SE seats. If they do the trick, is the lumbar support loom a complex item to fit? I was planning to try the seats and if they for the bill, retro the loom later (or ask you to do it for me!).

Thanks

Alan
 
alanb said:
Timmus

I think I may have acquired some sports seats via chumsofmanutd (which might have originated from you as it happens). I was planning to try them in my Storm which has SE seats. If they do the trick, is the lumbar support loom a complex item to fit? I was planning to try the seats and if they for the bill, retro the loom later (or ask you to do it for me!).

Thanks

Alan
Click to expand...

Hi Alan,

That sounds like a plan. Sport seats are the way forward as far as I'm concerned!
Lumbar support is, electrically speaking, one of the simplest retrofits. Whether you can fit it yourself depends greatly on how comfortable you are working on your car's interior/electrics. I'm more than happy to just make the loom and send it to you or to make and install. Just let me know.

Cheers,

Tom
 
Thanks, Timmus

I'll get the seats installed at the weekend and I'll be in touch.
I'm reasonably comfortable at working on the electrics - I've done the dash swap/RNS-E/bluetooth install, and the same on my R32 (inc DAB). Although I live in Somerset, I'm in the north west a fair bit, so we'll see how things pan out!

Thanks for getting back to me.

A
 
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